Understanding Healthcare Barriers for Latino/a/e/x Families with Alzheimer’s Disease: Insights from Primary Care Provider Interviews

Background Primary care providers (PCPs) are the first point of contact for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), and they are critical in understanding the factors associated with accessing services. This project aims to reflect on the barriers that Latino/a/e/x families experience in accessing and using healthcare services from the perspective of PCPs. Methods The data was collected through structured interviews with 23 PCPs from the United States. Two reviewers used an inductive coding approach to conduct qualitative thematic analysis. The Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique was used to extract relevant data and organize it into relevant categories. Results The themes identified were: 1) Family members are usually the first ones to notice the symptoms, 2) Delays in seeking care might be partially influenced by denial from individuals and their families, 3) Language congruency promotes the disclosure of symptoms, and 4) Caregiving expectations and preferences by Latino/a/e/x families do not shield caregivers from feeling burnout. Overall, PCPs reflected that socioeconomic factors influence their care plans. Conclusion Most Latino/a/e/x older adults with ADRD require additional support and resources at primary care appointments to address the barriers to accessing care services and enhance health equity in Latino/a/e/x communities.